Strack & Van Til Highland

At a Glance
• System Configuration: 2 × C65 Dual Mode Capstone Microturbines with integrated heat recovery & absorption chilling
• Annual Generation: >1,100 MWh/year of resilient, high-efficiency electricity
• Thermal Output: 860,000 BTU/hr of hot water + 80 tons of absorption n chilling (Chilled Water)
• Carbon Impact: 50% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• Award Recognition: 2024 Midwest Clean Energy Project Award winner (Midwest Cogeneration Association)


The Challenge
Strack & Van Til - headquartered in Highland, Indiana, with over 20 supermarket locations across Northwest Indiana and Illinois - relies heavily on continuous, high-volume energy to maintain critical food refrigeration and store climate control. Power interruptions pose immediate financial risks through inventory loss, while seasonal climate swings require massive energy consumption for summer cooling and winter space heating. To support its core sustainability goals, lower utility costs, and guarantee uninterrupted energy for sensitive refrigeration loads, the retailer required a flexible, low-emission combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) solution.


The Solution
A 130 kW tri-generation microgrid system was installed at the Highland store, engineered with dual-mode controls to automatically transition between grid-connected and standalone operation during utility power outages.
• Tri-Generation (CCHP) Efficiency: Captures microturbine exhaust heat to produce 860,000 BTU/hr of hot water and drives an 80-ton absorption chiller to supply clean, localized air conditioning.
• Seasonal Adaptive Thermal Dispatch: Automatically adjusts to seasonal requirements - utilizing hot water for store dehumidification and chilled water for cooling in the summer, while shifting hot water directly to building space heating in the winter to slash natural gas purchases.
• Dual-Mode Power Resiliency: Provides continuous baseload energy during normal operations and automatically transitions to island mode during grid disruptions, protecting vital store refrigeration and food safety.
• Low-Maintenance & Clean Operation: Air-bearing turbine technology operates without oil or liquid coolants, ensuring ultra-reliable, whisper-quiet performance for a commercial retail setting.


The Results
• 50% Reduction in Carbon Footprint: Delivers a 50% drop in store greenhouse gas emissions through ultra-efficient fuel utilization and on-site energy production.
• Guaranteed Food Security & Resilience: Protects critical supermarket refrigeration systems from regional grid reliability issues and extreme weather outages.
• Substantial Thermal Savings: Offsets expensive seasonal electricity and gas demand by repurposing free exhaust energy for summer cooling, winter heating, and dehumidification.
• Industry-Recognized Design: Earned the 2024 Midwest Clean Energy Project Award from the Midwest Cogeneration Association for innovative microgrid implementation.